Czech Republic to contribute to joint V4 migration project in Libya

On 24 January, the Czech government approved a €8.75 million contribution to a joint project of the Visegrad Group in Libya, whose main objective is to support Libya in mitigating the migration crisis and preventing illegal migration across the Mediterranean Sea to the EU. The total project cost is €35 million with equal participation by V4 countries.

The project focuses primarily on developing the Libyan Coast Guard fleet, increasing the number of coordination centres, purchasing the technologies and equipment needed to handle the migration crisis. In addition, the money also has to cover the training of new members of the Libyan Coast Guard. The Czech Republic, like the other V4 states, opposes emergency refugee redistribution quotas - the third package of prepared EU migration policy reform. Besides Libya, the Czech Republic is also active in Côte d'Ivoire, where it cooperates with Italy. Italy is one of the most affected southern European countries by migration, therefore repeatedly calls on the EU to better protect the southern border. Despite objections by the Visegrad countries, the revision of the Dublin system, although addressed firstly at unanimously-voting EU Council, could be relegated to the Interior Ministers council for a qualified majority vote.